1991 Mazda 787B

The 787B’s 1991 win at Le Mans was historic in two ways: It marked the first (and only) victory for a Japanese manufacturer, and the first (and only) overall victory for a car powered by a Wankel rotary engine. The 787B was designed by Englishman Nigel Stroud. Three 787B’s were entered for the 1991 event, placing first, sixth, and eighth.

The most famous of the Mazda 787B cars is the #55 car, painted in an outrageous bright orange and green scheme, sporting the logos of Renown and CHARGE.

The #55 car led the 1991 24 Hours of Le Mans for three hours, from lap 320 to the finish, claiming the win. Drivers Johnny Herbert, Bertrand Gachot, and Volker Weidler completed 362 laps (4923.2 km/3059.1 miles), finishing 27.2 km ahead of the second-place car with an average speed of 205.3 km/h.